George w



(No Model) G. W. N. YOST. TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

No. 583.220. Patented May 25,1897.

INVENTOR:

By his Afzomey WITNESSES:

vs co. woroum UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE IV. N. YOST, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE YOST IVRITINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,220, dated May 25,1897.

Application filed May 16, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. N. YOST, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTypelVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Previous'to my invention the inking-ribbons of type-Writing machineshave been arranged to move longitudinally in a straight line at eachdepression of the keys and the spacing-bar, and as a result the ribbonis comparatively soon wound from one spool upon the other, and hencefrequently requires the attention and the time of the operator to shiftor switch the feeding mechanism so as to enable the ribbon to be movedin the opposite direction and rewound upon the spool from which it hadjust previously been unwound. By reason of the movements of the ribbonback and forth in a right line during the operation of the machine'theink is soon used up in a narrow line running the whole length of theribbon, and it becomes necessary to move the spools laterally upon theirhorizontal shafts in order to presenta fresh ribbon-surface for thetype. This transverse adjustment of the inking-ribbon has heretoforebeen accomplished by the hands of the operator and demanded carefulmanipulation, the two spools requiring an equal movement upon theirshafts and arrangement directly opposite each other, so as to enable theribbon to be properly wound from one spool to the other.

My invention has for its main objects to continually move the ribbonlaterally automatically during the movements of the papercarriage and tomove it longitudinally only once, and that a short distance, during acomplete back-and-forth movement of the carriage. By thus feeding theribbon I am enabled to use its inked surface widthwise instead oflengthwise, as heretofore, and as a result thereof the ribbon may beused for a much longer time by the operator before it is required to beshifted for a longitudinal movement in an opposite direction.

To these main ends and objects my invention consists in the features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more Serial No.238,350. (No model.) I

fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims of thisapplication.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of so much of atype-writing machine as is necessary to illustrate my invention, thepaper-carriage and other usuallyemployed parts being omitted to conduceto clearness. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at the line a: m ofFig. 1, with the paper-carriage and other parts added. Fig. 3 is asimilar section taken at the plane indicated by y y of Fig. 1; Fig. 4:is a perspective View of the ribbon-spool shaft and its connecting-rod.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the sameletter or numeral of reference.

A represents the top plate of the machine, which is supported from thebed-plate by four posts or pillars B B B B and around which are mounted,as usual, the type bars or 1evers (l.

D represents the paper-carriage as an entirety, the platen thereof beingdesignated by the letter a, the end frame by b, the yoke by c, thefeed-racks by d, and the guide-roller by the letter 6.

E E represent the usually-employed guiderails, upon which the yoke 0slides during the travel of the carriage, and F the track or way for theguide-roller e to move upon.

From the pillars B, B, B and B extend outwardly horizontal arms 2, 3,4:, and 5, the arms 2 and 5 being connected together by a cross-bar 6and the arms 3 and 4: by a crossbar 7. Posts or uprights 8 and 9 extendfrom the cross-bars 6 and 7 and support the ends of the guide-rails E E.Preferably cast integral with the arms 2, 3, 4:, and 5 and at rightangles thereto are portions 10, ll, 12, and 13, that are perforated toact as guides or bearings for the ribbon-spool shafts, which aredesignated by the numerals 14 and 15. These shafts are connected to movetogether a like distance. They are preferably formed of a single pieceof round wire, which is bent angularly, as represented at Fig. 4, theportion 16 serving to connect the two shafts together. The rear end ofthe shaft 15 projects farther than that of the shaft 14, and theconnecting portion 16 extends obliquely, as illustrated at Fig. 1. Thisoblique or inclined arrangement of the rod 16 serves a purpose, as willpresently appear.

17 represents the ribbon-spools, mounted loosely upon the shafts 14c and15 at opposite ends of the machine, so as to be capable of rotation andwind and unwind the ribbon as usual, but these spools are so arrangedupon their shafts as to be incapable of any endwise movements thereupon.For this purpose side arms 13 and 19 are made fast to the shaftsexteriorly of the spool-heads. Simple pinsor collars would also serve toprevent longitudinal movement of the spools, but I prefer the arms 18and 19 because I can make them serve the additional function of asupport for the cross bars or rollers 20, over which the ribbon G shouldbe supported and moved when fed lengthwise. One of the heads of thespool 17 is formed or provided with closely-cut ratchetteeth 21, withwhich pawls 22. and 23 engage, for the purposes to be presentlyexplained.

Upon the rod 18 is secured a bracket 24, in which the pawl 22 ispivoted. This pawl is provided for the purpose of preventing the spoolfrom turning backwardly. The pawl 23 is jointed to a lever 25, that isfulcrumed at 26 in the bracket 24, and this pawl is employed to push thespool 18 around and wind the ribbon thereupon. It is preferablyweighted, as at 27, to insure an engagement with the ratchet-teeth 21,but a spring connected to the arm 25 and to the pawl 23 would do aswell.

28 represents an inclined or slanting rod or bar affixed to the topplate or frame of the machine, upon which the rear perforated end of thelever 25 rides and by which it is vibrated, as will be hereinafter morefully described.

Secured about centrally of the carriageframe and projecting rearwardlyand downwardly is an arm or bracket 29, the lower end of which isbifurcated at 30 and sets astride and moves the connecting-rod 16 of theribbon-spool shafts.

Having sufficiently described the construction of a machine involving myinvention, I will now proceed to explain the mode of operation thereof.

As the carriage travels back and forth the bifurcated portion of the arm29 travels always in the path indicated by the dotted line 2 z and movesthe rod 16 in and out, as represented by the dotted lines at Fig. 1. Inthe positions in which the parts are drawn the rod 16 and the shafts 14and 15 are represented to have been moved outwardly about half theirfull distances. lVhen the carriage shall have traveled to the extremeleft of the machine, the connecting-bar 16 and the shafts or rods 14 and15 will have been moved outwardly orrearwardly to the positionsindicated by the dotted lines 3, and when the carriage shall havetraveled to the extreme right of the machine these parts will have beenmoved inwardly or forwardly to the positions indicated by the dottedlines i.

The spools being secured upon their shafts against endwise movement aremoved back and forth with them and the ribbon is consequently shiftedbodily laterally or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thecarriage. It will be understood, of course, that the lateral movement ofthe ribbon, which takes place as the carriage moves to the left, iseffected gradually as the carriage moves step by step under the actionof the driving and feeding mechanisms, and the several parts are soproportioned and relatively arranged that in one full movement of thecarriage fromrig'ht to left the ribbon is moved laterally a distanceslightly less than its own width. At the commencement of the rav el ofthe carriage from right to left the rear longitudinal edge of the ribbonjust overlaps the rintin )OIIlll of the machine and at the comi P s lpletion of the travel of the carriage from right to left the frontlongitudinal edge of the ribbon overlaps the impression-point.

During the return of the carriage to the right of the machine, which isusually accomplished quickly by the hand of the operator, the ribbon ismoved laterally toward the front of the machine by the action of thebifurcated arm of the carriage and at the same time the ribbon is fedlengthwise to the right upon the spool 17 a distance about equal to oneletterspace, so as to produce a fresh ink-surface for thetypecharacters. This longitudinal movement of the ribbon is effectedautomatically in the following manner: During the movement of the spooltoward the front of the ma chine the inner end of the lever 25 is forcedto travel up the inclined rod 28, and its outer end is consequentlyvibrated downwardly. The pawl 23 upon the outer end of the lever is atthis time moved downwardly also, and pushing upon the tooth of theratchet in front turns said spool upon its axis and winds thereupon aportion of the length of the ribbon.

During the movement of the carriage to the left of the machine and thedescent of the inner arm of said lever 25 the pawl is gradually raisedand finally engaged with a tooth in rear of the one it before actedupon, so as to again effect a rotation of the spool upon the return ofthe carriage. WVhile the pawl 23 is being raised, as just explained, thespool is prevented from being turned backwardly by reason of theengagement of the dog 22 with the ratchet thereof.

It will be obvious that many changes in de tail construction may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and so far as themain features thereof are con cerned I do not consider myself limited tojust what is herein shown and described.

By my invention is provided a type-writing machine in which the ribbonis moved laterally as the printing is done and its Wholesurfacewidthwise (except within a short dis tance of its extreme edges)utilized, and by giving the ribbon this movement and winding it slightlyonly once during a complete IIS back-and-forth movement of the carriagethe ribbon is not only kept in good shape and enabled to do better work,but will not need the attention of the operator until hundreds ofthousands of impressions shall have been taken, and then all that willbe required will be to disengage the pawls 22 and 23 and by hand Windthe ribbon back upon the spool 17 at the left of the machine, which wasoriginally the full one.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 In a type-writing machine, the combination with a traveling carriageand an inkingribbon and ribbon-spools, of a reciprocatory frame orcarrier connected to said inkingribbon and ribbon-spools, and a deviceattached to said carriage and connected to said ribbon-spool frame orcarrier so as to cause a movement of the latter by the travel of thecarriage.

2. In a type-writin g machine, the combination of a traveling carriagehaving a ribbonactuating arm, an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbon-spools,a reciprocatory frame or carrier connected to said ribbon-spools andextended to be engaged by the said carriagearm, whereby the longitudinalmovement of the carriage, through said arm, frame and spools, causes awidthwise movement of the inking-ribbon.

In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage, theinking-ribbon, and the ribbon-spools, of the spool-shafts, anobliquely-arranged rod connecting them together, and an arm or bracketsecured to the,

carriage and connected to said obliquely-arranged rod, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage, theinking-ribbon, and the ribbon-spools, of the spool-shafts connectedtogether, the perforated or tubular horizontal bearings for said shafts,and means substantially as described for reciprocating said shafts;substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a carriage, aninking-ribbon, reciprocatory ribbon-spools, an inclined way, and atraveler thereupon spools, whereby the inking-ribbon is movedtransversely during the longitudinal movements of the carriage;substantially as de scribed.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage, aninking-ribbon, reciprocatory ribbon-spools, an inclined way, a travelerthereupon to actuate the ribbon-spools and move the ribbon transversely,and means for moving the ribbon longitudinally; substantially asdescribed.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage, theinking-ribbon, and the ribbon -spools, of the connected spoolshafts, anobliquely-arranged rod, and an arm or bracket adapted to saidobliquely-arranged rod, whereby the ribbon is moved transversely;substantially as described.

8. The combination with a framework having carriage-guides, a carriagemounted upon said guides, carriage feeding mechanism, type-bars,keys,and operative connections, of ribbon-spool shafts carrying ribbonspools and capable of longitudinal movement, a guideway inclined to thecarriage-guides, a traveler moving upon said guideway and connected tosaid spool-shafts, and means for rotatin g said spools; substantially asdescribed.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 18th day of April, A. D. 1887.

G. IV.- N. YOST.

Witnesses:

O. C. ALDEN, J. FELBEL.

to actuate the ribbon

